Planning a trip to the Ozarks in Arkansas & Looking for some Information

[Burbs]

My wife and I plan on riding the Ozarks this upcoming spring and I wanted to get some advice as to what town we should use as our basecamp. I'm debating between Harrison and Clarksville. Any one stick out as the better option?

There are a ton of resources online for roads that I've found but are there any "must hits" that I should include on our endeavors? Any hidden treasures you'd be willing to clue me in on?

As for food, any locally owned "mom and pop" places we should hit?

I appreciate the help.

Thanks,

Burbs

[Sport-Touring]

[jay547]

We like the Hub, just south of Harrison. It's a little dated but is geared toward motorcyclists and run by good people. The restaurant is decent too.

http://www.hubinfo.com/

[SLK50]

I really like Eureka Springs.
Good roads in any direction.
Dozens of places to stay.
Plenty of great restaurants.

[DosEquis00]

In your travels the Cliff House Inn is a good stop and pay the premium for the "Company's Comin' Pie"!

[garry]

I really like Eureka Springs.
Good roads in any direction.
Dozens of places to stay.
Plenty of great restaurants.

+1

[Burbs]

How is the traffic in Eureka around Memorial Day? We will be in the area around that time.


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[jay547]

It will be very crowded, particularly in town itself. If you're planning on seeing Eureka, plan on doing a lot of walking.

But if you don't mind that, Eureka is very cool. We go there a couple times a year.

[Burbs]

Any recommendations for places to stay in the Eureka Springs area? I wasn't going to stay in that area originally but now I'm leaning towards the cottage/cabin idea.

-Chris

[kyzrex]

You should also consider staying in Mountain Home, AR.

[Burbs]

You should also consider staying in Mountain Home, AR.

I did see that on the map, what do you like about this area?

[kyzrex]

I did see that on the map, what do you like about this area?

Access to the best roads in both Arkansas and southern Missouri.  Haven't stayed there, but passing though I saw plenty of hotels and restaurants, even though it is a small town.  MSTA has been holding a regional event in the area for better than 20 years and it fills up every year, so you can count on the twisty road riding being great.

[DeansZG]

Any recommendations for places to stay in the Eureka Springs area? I wasn't going to stay in that area originally but now I'm leaning towards the cottage/cabin idea.

-Chris

I'll add that E.S. is very m/c friendly w/ lots of businesses posting welcome motorcyclists..  The Guest House International Swiss Holiday Resort worked well for us.  A plus for me was that the pool / spa area is behind the motel & somewhat hidden from street view, & easy walking distance to a few restaurants & an m/c parts/accessory shop too.  http://alturl.com/fi3xu    
     

[Burbs]

Well I've booked us a cabin at Eureka Springs Sunset Cabins. Affordable and great reviews. Can't wait fort his trip.

[wheatonFJR]

I've been to AR a few times, and people have hosted small rides emanating from the BW- Clinton, various motels around Mountain View, and in Harrison.

I like Clinton, but Harrison has more restaurants and hotels.

[1moreroad]

Of all the towns mentioned, I like Eureka Springs the best.  Mountain Home is on the east side of everything, so it some better roads will be farther away.  Mountain View is < 1 hour from Mountain Home but a little less expensive.  The town square in Mountain View has character.  You'll be riding west for a little while to get to good roads (except Push Mountain).  

Russellville is good if you want to hit the Ouachita Mountains, too (IMO not as good as the Ozarks).  Russellville is stuck in a river valley, though, so the roads immediately around it except the short stretch up to  Mount Nebo) are boring.

We stayed at the Hub last April.  It was fine.  Good restaurant.  My buddy was unimpressed.  We stayed in Russellville the 2nd night.

Arkansas aggressively markets to motorcyclists.  Their guide is here: http://www.arkansas.com/motorcycling/ and it's good.

My favorite roads are Push Mountain (341) between Mountain View and Mountain Home (best riding north to south) and 123/74 around Mount Judea.  Both are all paved in spite of what some maps say.

16 and 27 are good ways to get across the state east to west.  Pig Trail is famous, but it was very crowded last time I was on it.  Oark Cafe has good burgers (but that's hardly a hidden gem, just a gem).

[soonerstan56]

Good choice using E.S. as a base. No matter which direction you go are great roads.
I arrived late on a Friday one time and learned there was a Corvette meet up one year and was forced to ride to Harrison in the dark to find a room.
I don't like riding past sundown,especially on a two lane.
After spending the night there I learned some of the history of the town and saw a disturbing billboard the next morning that would have kept me riding to a different locale.Thomas Robb, national director of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, maintains his office near Harrison in the outlying town of Zinc and uses a Harrison mailing address for the organization.[13] Combined with the history of the 1905 and 1909 banishment of unemployed railroad workers and all other African-American residents, this incidental connection to the KKK has given the town a negative image. Some residents have taken steps to combat the image in recent years.[14]

Controversial billboard welcoming people to Harrison, Arkansas
In 2013, a billboard appeared that read: "Anti-Racist is a Code Word for Anti-White. "In response, a local radio station removed its nearby billboard, and students from North Arkansas College passed out fliers calling for a protest of the sign.[15] An official statement read: "The mayor’s office considers the content inflammatory, distasteful and not in line with the truth on how Harrison is a city of welcoming and tolerant citizens."[16]
However, as of October, 2016, the billboard remains displayed.

[jay547]

I've heard that before but I've been through there a dozen times or more and never seen it. Where is it?

[rajflyboy]

Ozarks are beautiful !!

Awesome sign too